I'm curious as to how my esteemed PD colleagues are viewing the upcoming Presidential election. What are your thoughts on the candidates, both Democrates and Republicans (yes, plural, as I think Ron Paul is still on the ballot...barely)?
As I've mentioned before, I'm a registerred Democrat, although I have voted for Republicans before (I like Arlen Spector, for example). Here's my take on the current field:
Hillary Clinton - May get my vote in the primary by default, although I will probably have to hold my nose while voting. I want to like Ms Clinton, but I just get the impression that she feels as if she's somehow owed this nomination. Policy wise, I worry that a Clinton Mk II Presidency will over-spend. Thanks for George Bush, there simply isn't any room in the budget for anything big and new (re: Healthcare) without something else giving, and Democrates are loathed to take anything away from anyone. Barack Obama - I admire Mr Obama's sense of optimism and strong desire for change, but I seriously question his credentials to become President. George Bush was more qualified for the job than Mr Obama, and some of us thought he was grossly underqualified when he ran 8 years ago for the first time. Policy-wise, I don't see much difference between the two senators (Clinton & Obama), but I do see the same potential problems from a budget perspective.
John McCain - Is the only one of the "big three" who wrote a book that I actually read (the book was "Faith of My Fathers"). I think Mr McCain is probably the most qualified of the three, and certainly has demonstrated incredible personal courage in his life. However, and this is a big however, policy-wise, I smell a Bush Mk III in him; case in point: his proposals on healthcare do nothing to address the underlying causes of medical inflation in this country. Think of it this way: If Microsoft (with tremendous buying power and access to legal/benefit experts) can't negotiate better rates for it's employees with insurance companies, then how can individual Americans? Senator McCain's tax proposals are too simple to be realistic, and his squishy talk about Iraq has me worried that we will continue to throw money into the middle east for the next twenty five years.
I'm not even going to address Ron Paul in this, as I don't honestly think he has a chance of winning.
The bottom line for me is that I'm probably going to vote for Hillary Clinton at this stage, but I could very well vote for John McCain in the general election IF I hear some policy discussions from him that sound like original thinking, just not Bush re-warmed.
What will drive my vote on the fall -
1. Healthcare - the single biggest issue facing this country since World War II. George Bush as ignored it for 8 years, hoping that it would go away. HSA & other high-deductible plans are a joke for anyone other than the rich and single, healthy individuals. 2. Budget - We spend too much money as a country on too many stupid things. It has to stop. 3. The War - Over a TRILLION dollars spent, and on what? A faulty notion that Saddam had contacts with al queda <sp> terrorists weapons of mass destruction, neither of which was accurate.
-- Edited by Agamemnon at 07:45, 2008-03-17
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Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.
I heard that Ted Kennedy offered to give Hillary a ride home if he can ride shotgun as vp on Obama's ticket.
I would rather spend a few extra dollars to keep "those people" OUT of my country than to save a buck and a half and take the chance on another September 11th re-enactment. I'm sorry ... does that sound racist? I don't mean it to, but 'towelhead bastards' kept getting edited.
If you can read this ... thank a teacher If you can read this in English ... thank a soldier.
I am watching this election with great interest and like Agam I have pro's and con's on them all. No decision as of yet as to what my general election vote maybe, however as a democrate I probably will go with Obama in the primary. I say probably because I think he is in very serious trouble (campaign wise) over the recent coverage of his association with that loon of a preacher. Up to this point I frankly didn't Hillary much of chance against him given the way the early primaries were going but now?? I fully expect much more to be revealed about this issue. I am not sure he can survive it. What say you??
-- Edited by IHavehadenoughofhaters at 09:38, 2008-03-17
I say after what has happened in recent United States history, when push comes to shove the people of the U.S. are not ready to elect a president by the name of Barack Hussein Obama -- oops, O'Bama (it is St. Patrick's Day, after all).
He may have the best of intentions, and more power to the man for running one hell of a campaign, but I would think a woman will be elected before him. Not that I want that woman to be Hillary Clinton, by any means.
Their choice for V.P. will be a huge deciding factor for many democrats.
I suspect that both Clinton and Obama will continue to "play nice", as the writing is on the wall in terms of the Democratic base...Clinton can't afford to alientate any more blacks, and Barack can't afford to alienate women and hispanics. Simply put, neither will ultimately be successful without the support of the other candidate's base of supporters.
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Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.
I am also watching this election. I don't like Hilary's attidude that she thinks she is "owed" this nomination. I don't like her policy's. If I was going to vote for her, being endorsed by Doherty would have made me think really hard if I would vote for anyone he supports, however it might get him the hell out of here.
OBama...I like that this "nobody" came out of the woods and gave HilBill a ride for there money, and might be the nominee.
McCain, best quailified, but I don't like his stance on the war.
I need to watch the debates between the two chosen canidates to decide.
